*Official* CW XI Media Coverage

[ash chaulk]

CricketWeb Times
Thursday, 4th June, 2004 - Fourth Issue
Board miss the mark in warm-up
John Bronson


The CricketWeb Board of Cricket Control are once again coming under fire for their conduct in the wake of the opening game of the tour of Pakistan against the Faisalabad Regional XI.

This reporter may be considered an old-school student of the great game of cricket, but aren't warm-up matches supposed to be about rotating duties in order to gain match practice?

Firstly, a three-day game is hardly sufficient for an entire team to get some time in the middle should the unforeseen happen, and secondly, when it's 312/3, maybe it would be an idea to use a further bowler once in a while.

The sole purpose of the Faisalabad game seems to have been to baby-sit Jason Toogood into the International arena. Whilst undoubtedly talented, the fact that one man can bat at number three and take the role of a main bowler is surely against the point of a team warm-up?

There were several alternative bowling options in the side that really ought to have been used rather than persisting with the utterly ineffectual main line, in particular Hoitink and Halsey, and then to allow the same man having bowled 20 overs to bat at three rather than allow other fringe batsmen more time to establish their places does raise questions.

Whilst the selection panel was reformed in the revolt of November, it's still difficult to see the accountability of the coach and the in-game selection decisions. It's hard enough to win in Pakistan as it is without ineffective leadership.

Onwards and Upwards...

hey its the captains choice to choose its bowlers

 

[marc71178]

i earnt my spot in the CWXI as a batsmen it, so it would be clear that my duties as a bowler need to be refined and perfected.

If you earnt your spot as a batsman, you wouldn't be in at 7.

Obviously the cap would not bowl me if they did not have plans for me (hence batting at 7) as more of a bowler who can bat.

If those were the plans how come you went in at 3 in the warm-up game and had a full bowling load?

I must say I agree with the article 100%

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Captains Statement

There have been a few instances in recent times of players complaining about selection/non selection in squads etc..

The selection process is a thourough one and to all the players who feel hard done by all i say is that YOU yourself need to standup and be accountable...

Some young guys have proven that performances on the board get results.. Some players have also had a crack at the big time and have come up short, just because you put a few good runs or wickets on the board doesn't mean you jump straight back up the pecking order. Work hard, and the recognition will come..

This is not directed at anyone in particular but i as the captain feel that players need to know where they stand, and i again issue this open offer for anyone unsure of where they stand in the CW system or how they are looked at, to come to me and i will offer some advice or info as to where you stand and what you need to do...

Blewy
CW XI Captain

Clap ! well said Captain !!

Lets make one thing clear - some of the selection panel were not happy with the idea of a 3 day match (Liam and I had a run in about it) or the side selected. Yet, sadly, in a majority rules case, I am at a loss to chance the fixtures despite being on the panel.

if i was given an idea about this i would have put in my opinion on it..but neil the choice of bowlers is based on the captain aswell

 

[ash chaulk]

If you earnt your spot as a batsman, you wouldn't be in at 7.

Hes probably there cos thats were the spot available for him


And a question to you.... i find you very negative towards alot of people whats up wit that?

 

[lord_of_darkness]

And a question to you.... i find you very negative towards alot of people whats up wit that?

hes trying to be unique in his own way but its not working quite well :P

 

[AUST_HiTMaN]

I Originally found him to be negative to people when i first joined CW, now i know him and realise his point of view more, he is just stating the stats people overlook, which is good. There is negatives and positives to everything, good ole marc is there to let us know about the negatives and dont be too focused on the positives.

My opinions on why he comes out as 'negative towards people'

Also alot of people tend not to note his sarcasm alot of the time

But its understandable where you coming from ash hey.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

if i was given an idea about this i would have put in my opinion on it..but neil the choice of bowlers is based on the captain aswell

You approved the schedule!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lets make one thing clear - some of the selection panel were not happy with the idea of a 3 day match (Liam and I had a run in about it) or the side selected. Yet, sadly, in a majority rules case, I am at a loss to chance the fixtures despite being on the panel.

I'm not going to air any dirty laundry and discuss the side that you would have selected. I'd really prefer to deal with it privately.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

i earnt my spot in the CWXI as a batsmen it, so it would be clear that my duties as a bowler need to be refined and perfected. Obviously the cap would not bowl me if they did not have plans for me (hence batting at 7) as more of a bowler who can bat. i am quite happy playing any role the team wishes upon me

That's incorrect. You went into the warmup game as a batsman who would bowl a few overs, hence you were decided to bat at 3. You came on as 3rd change bowler and, when everyone else was without any real success, you took wickets. You're playing at 7 because PY is keeping and opening.

That said, Marc should have bowled and he was somehow overlooked, but he's the only other person who would need the practice heading into the Tests.

 

[Neil Pickup]

i earnt my spot in the CWXI as a batsmen it, so it would be clear that my duties as a bowler need to be refined and perfected. Obviously the cap would not bowl me if they did not have plans for me (hence batting at 7) as more of a bowler who can bat. i am quite happy playing any role the team wishes upon me

There is no criticism at all of Toogood - it's all aimed above.

 

[spikeypineapple]

If you earnt your spot as a batsman, you wouldn't be in at 7.

are u implying that i earnt my spot as a bowler?? one would have to question the selection criteria if that were the case.

however, in regards to being named at number 7 in this weeks first test, a bowler was needed and i put my hand up to bowl, whether or not that was the right decision we will soon find out. i think my performance as a batsmen at number 7 is quite limited, however, i feel as though i may still have a chance to contribute to the team.

on the other hand, a part of me feels as if something has gone wrong, it would make sense to name a bigger squad and/or elevate somebody from the A team (a bowler perhaps) to fill the void that myself is now filling. I think it would be a greater chance for the team to suceed, but hey, im not complaining, just making a point.

 

[Yousuf_Youhana]

The LBW

Thursday 10th June, 2004

The Dangermen of Pakistan...

Mohammad Zaman

After a heavy loss to the hands of Pakistan, one man stood out, Shoaib Akhtar ripped through the order with first innings figures of 5-32 as the Cricket Web XI were bowled out for a disappointing 121 with Mr Ponting top scoring with 29. That first innings set the tone for the rest of the match as Pakistan put up a total of 312 with Yousuf Youhana hitting 101. The Cricket Web however replied with a modest 268 with Sami and Akhtar taking 3 wickets a piece. With a target of 78, the openers knocked them off in 17.1 overs.

With this loss under their belt the Cricket Web XI certainly must have learnt a lesson but with the amount of dangermen in the Pakistan Cricket Team, they have to work harder than ever.

Dangerman No 1 : Yasir Hameed, Age 25, Right Handed Batsman, Position number 3. Arrived late on the cricket scene but took little time to impress smashing 170 not out and 100 on his debut versus Bangladesh. He followed that up with a string of weary performances of 30s and 40s but is deadly on his day, often gets out to wide deliveries outside off but can still impress with the odd 100.... or 2.

Dangerman No 2 : Inzamam Ul Haq, Age 33, Right Hand Batsmen, Position number 4. The heartbeat of the batting line up, Inzamam's ability to handle pressure and organise an innings makes him lethal in the line up. As Captain he has done a decent job but as batsmen has done a better one, hit a memorable 300 plus against New Zealand, scored a quickfire 30 against Cricket Web XI, which makes him dangerous. Inzamam can take away a match with a burst of runs or can slow down the pace of wickets falling with his defensive style.

Dangerman No 3 : Yousuf Youhana, Right Hand Batsman, Position number 5. Scored a 100 against the Cricket Web. Enough Said about this man.

Dangerman No 4 : Mohammed Sami, Right Arm Fast Bowler, His ability to bowl over 90 miles per hour makes him as lethal as Shoaib Akhtar, he can rip through an order when it's his day, if it ain't his day he'll still give 200% to the game.

Dangerman No 5 : Shoaib Akhtar, Right Arm Fast, The deadliest bowler in the world pacewise, He has ripped through almost every countries order and did the same with the Cricket Web XI in the 1st test with another five-fer, his ability to entertain with both bat and ball makes him dangerous in many ways as a crowd favourite.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Note to the LBW:

Our "A" team had a field day with Mohammad Sami at Canterbury yesterday - Umar Gul, on the other hand seems to be bowling well for the Pakistani. Even I smacked Sami about a bit

 

[Andre]

I'm not going to air any dirty laundry and discuss the side that you would have selected. I'd really prefer to deal with it privately.

I wasn't really concerned about the XI at all in that sense - more that we just had 1 tour match.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The Daily Blast
The Enigma of the CW XI - Episode IV
The test of a Test
by Kwase Knight

Test cricket is the only true test of a cricketer's skill, as the name suggests. Enough of this One Day International rubbish. Yes, the ODI specialists have their own skill and all contribute to the team cause as well, but it is in Test cricket where the men are separated from the boys.

For example, Neil Pickup averages a sizeable 34.66 with the ball at Test level and a meagre 19.55 in ODIs. That's really just a quick illustration though as he is just one of the many who enjoy such contrast and the celebration which accompanies.

The Cricket Web XI have not won a Test match in their last 3 series. Indeed, we must look back 12 Tests to find their last victory. Since then, the record reads a dismal 0-7-4. No wins, 7 losses and 4 draws over an 11-Test period. It's a sad shame that a team with such tremendous and obvious talent would settle to take pleasure in the odd draw. There is no excuse for the runners up to the World Cup to be thrashed by a moderate Pakistan side. Beaten perhaps, but thrashed - absolutely unacceptable.

Clearly the batsmen can't stand the heat of well-directed pace and, from Dev League showings, aren't too adept at playing spin either. So what do they do? They thrust a rookie into the Test spotlight and ask him to be their saviour. Yes, Toogood has been sparkling for the Cricket Web Green team, but does he have what is needed by the CW XI at this point in time? Can he stop the clinical top-order collapses? Can he inspire an opening stand to conspire to get past the first couple of overs of an innings? No.

The problems of the Cricket Web XI root much deeper than that. Any substandard player can go out and score a fifty and bag five in a warmup game. Any prospective phenom can cross 20 in a Test match. Indeed, even had Toogood gone on to a century on debut, it still would have come to little as the walls crumbled around him. He looked like a boy in a man's game, struggling 28 balls for his first run and 12 balls in the second innings. A boy against men and a boy amongst boys. This game is so easy when the bowlers are second string Aussies and Englishmen and so impossible when it's Shoaib that you're facing.

Cricket is a team sport and the CW XI don't seem to grasp that, in Test anyway. The batsmen need to work together and bat with patience and guts. Not since the West Indies against England in 2004 have I seen such a spineless display. Yes, the Pakistanis bowled superbly, but the good players don't get out to every good ball they receive and the good teams don't get knocked over on a good pitch.

My plee to the CW XI players is to pick themselves up, have some sense knocked into them, stop whining and crying and settle down to play some real cricket. These players need to step up soon to prove that the CW XI is a Test standard team and win some games. Alas, Bangladesh is finally smiling.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I Originally found him to be negative to people when i first joined CW, now i know him and realise his point of view more, he is just stating the stats people overlook, which is good. There is negatives and positives to everything, good ole marc is there to let us know about the negatives and dont be too focused on the positives.

My opinions on why he comes out as 'negative towards people'

Also alot of people tend not to note his sarcasm alot of the time

But its understandable where you coming from ash hey.

I thought the same lol.

But now I know him better, I find his sarcasm very funny.

 

[marc71178]

Also alot of people tend not to note his sarcasm alot of the time

that is the key thing people just don't get, but they're mostly Aussies, so I'm not surprised!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Note to the LBW:

Our "A" team had a field day with Mohammad Sami at Canterbury yesterday - Umar Gul, on the other hand seems to be bowling well for the Pakistani. Even I smacked Sami about a bit

Hehe. I totally overlooked that.

 

[spikeypineapple]

no comment as to the remarks made about me

 

[ash chaulk]

WErD Up MagAziNe

Cover Story

June 11 2004


PLaYa On Tha RiSe

Werd up magazine would like to pay tribute to Jason Toogood after a fantastic Development league FC season.

Well lets be honest hey Jason Toogood burst onto the scene in Season 6' scoring over 1000 runs at the half way point of the season. He had the whole town talking about this playa whos come out of no where to carve up oposition sides all year long. Batting at Number 4 nearly for the whole season Toogood Managed to Make 12 50's and 5 hundreds in his first class games and also chippin in with some handy bowlin avg with 31 runs per wicket taking 35 wickets bowling his deadly economical medium pace.

Recently The man made his Test Debut against Pakistan and lets be honest he would have hoped for better but being named at number 7 what chance did he really have of making somethink "big" happen?? This was his 2nd game batting in the sub continent after his awesome warmup match performance. The pakistani bowlers bowled awesome showing toogood just how tough it is in the big time it took him 28 balls of patience to score his first Test Match run against these pakistani bowlers... some reasons for this could be that he had not seen such bowling before or even batted enough on a different pitch for him to deal with the deadly pakistani bowling. Scoring 20 in his first innings was the equal 2nd top score for the CW XI so not only was toogood not in sync but neither were a few super stars of the CW XI. Toogood then took the feild and when he bowled it was brilliant bowling 11-7 0/11 the best economy rate of all bowlers showing that this player has the potential to be Great. Toogoods 2nd batting innings was a much better 37 runs where he got out trying to score runs quickly as Number 11 Neil Pickup arrived at the crease.

Not the best of debuts from this Rookie but a sign of things to come IMO.

an interview will be coming soon from jason toogood.


Peace out,
Snoop Chaulky Chaulk